Last year, Stephen Sondheim’s Finishing The Hat collected his lyrics through 1981 (along with lots of behind-stage stories, photos, and asides). As soon as it arrived—to raves and appearances on best-of lists—fans clamored for the rest of the story. Look, I Made A Hat: Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Wafflings, Diversions and Anecdotes (Knopf, $45) brings us up to date. It has definitive analyses of Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins, Passion, and the many incarnations of Road Show (previously titled Wise Guys and Bounce). Sondheim also writes about his work on films and television, and drops in some “orphan songs” written for special occasions. The book’s deluxe format is the same as that of the first volume: glossy pages, clean layouts, and plenty of photos. It’s quite the hat!
Both volumes are now also available in a handsome slip-cased edition, appropriately titled HAT BOX: The Collected Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim (Knopf, $90).
